Women’s Super League: talking points from the weekend’s action | OneFootball

Bompastor anger at City tactical break

Sonia Bompastor, the Chelsea manager, expressed her frustration at what she perceived to be a deliberate tactical timeout orchestrated by Manchester City during the first half of Friday’s season-opener. While the City goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita was down receiving treatment, head coach Andrée Jeglertz used his tactics board to show instructions to his players. Bompastor could be seen remonstrating with the officials at the time and, after the game, she said: “For me, that’s not fair. It’s not in the rules. I mentioned that last season as well, with all the goalkeepers going down just for the coach to have a tactical stoppage to talk to the players. I’m not saying I will never use that, because I know that it can be part of a strategy, but tonight it was too much. It was a long break, it was obvious for everyone, they had the board and everything.” Tom Garry

Subs make difference for Gunners

Olivia Smith may have stolen Arsenal hearts and the headlines with her stunning debut goal in the 4-1 defeat of London City Lionesses, but the impact of the Gunners’ substitutes was key to them seeing out the game comfortably. For the third goal it was Beth Mead and Stina Blackstenius combining, before Frida Maanum was the beneficiary of that pair’s buildup play for Arsenal’s fourth. All three had come off the bench against the WSL newcomers and with Arsenal competing on four fronts this season, that quality in depth will be critical. The head coach Renée Slegers said of her squad: “It’s early in the season, so we also had to manage a lot of things. We had to make good decisions with yellow cards and players’ fitness today, and that’s all taken into account. The players who start the game problem-solved, they had to create a team connection and the rhythm on the pitch, and then the players that finished the game when things were more open – it was brilliant today.” Suzanne Wrack

Toone scores emotional goal

Ella Toone started the season where she left off in Switzerland, with an attacking performance that illustrated how she continues to return to her best after a difficult 12 months. It was perhaps inevitable that she would score on the anniversary of her father Nick’s death, adding extra emotion to her 13th-minute opener against Leicester. Toone was integral to Manchester United’s dominant 4-0 victory against disjointed opponents, pulling the strings in behind Elisabeth Terland and providing the assist for Melvine Malard’s second goal. Toone registered 100 touches on the ball, the second-highest of anyone on the pitch and could have had a hat-trick. It was a routine opening-day win for Marc Skinner’s side, who showed the benefits of having already played competitive football this season in Champions League qualification. Sophie Downey

Everton hot-shot Vignola stuns Anfield

Standing in the mixed zone holding the match ball, even Ornella Vignola seemed a little bemused by what had just happened. One thing’s for certain: the smile will not be leaving her face any time soon. The 20-year-old announced herself in style after her move from Granada this summer, becoming the first Everton player to score a hat-trick in a Merseyside derby for 94 years. “She was superb and she has been like that in training,” her delighted manager, Brian Sørensen, said. “Her runs are so well-timed and the way she faces up and goes at players, she is excellent. She just wants to score.” The Blues cemented their dominance in this fixture with a 4-1 comeback victory, their fourth straight win against Liverpool and their sixth from six at Anfield. SD

Spurs’ Koga hits ground running

Toko Koga impressed on her Tottenham debut, the 19-year-old helping her new side keep a clean sheet in the 1-0 win against West Ham. Spurs are delighted that the Japan centre-back chose to join them from Feyenoord this summer amid interest from Champions League sides. The new Tottenham head coach, Martin Ho, believes Koga can be a star. “For a 19-year-old she’s very mature. She’s well above her years in terms of football and personally,” Ho said. “That’s just a snippet of what Toko can do. We’ve only been working with her for the last five or six weeks and I think, when you get six or seven months in, you’re going to see a real, talented player, and I believe probably one of the best in world football.” TG

Villa keep Agyemang quiet

“I’m proud because it is difficult to play a nice first game,” the Aston Villa manager, Natalia Arroyo, said after her side earned a point away to Brighton. This felt like a typical opening day fixture: a goalless draw between two sides who were separated by just three points last season. Both sides looked refreshed but lacked cohesion in a game that promised much but delivered little. The Seagulls will be the most disappointed with the outcome: Dario Vidosic’s team controlled possession, led in attacking statistics and made twice as many passes as their opponents, who defended resolutely. Finding that clinical edge will be the next step for Brighton: Michelle Agyemang, back on loan from Arsenal after a career-changing summer, led the line and hit the post but was otherwise marshalled well by the visitors. SD

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